Monday, November 18, 2024
Home Blog Page 5921

Kerala coast on alert, fishermen asked to watch out for terrorists and submarines

As Pakistan is desperate to attack India following the terror strikes against Jaish camps in Balakot, the Indian security apparatus has been on high alert to avert any terror attacks. To augment the existing alertness, the Kerala Fisheries Department has also asked the fishermen to watch out for ‘submarines’ and to ‘report any kind of suspicious activities duly to the agencies concerned’, reports the New Indian Express.

Reportedly, the state government has issued an advisory after receiving intelligence inputs that the terrorists might choose the sea-route for retaliation. The state government has also asked to keep vigil on any suspicious movement in the coastal areas. “It was based on the alert provided by agencies concerned that we issued an alert of this kind,” said S Mahesh, Fisheries Deputy Director (Ernakulam).

The report, citing sources in the Indian Navy, says that the alert issued is a general kind for strengthening the coastal security mechanism and is meant for the Kadalora Jagratha Samithis, Indian Coast Guard, Kerala Coastal Police, Marine Enforcement Department, and Fisheries Department.

Amidst growing tensions between India and Pakistan, Indian Armed Forces appear to be battle-ready for any escalation or attempts by the Pakistani establishment to inflict terror on Indian soil. Just yesterday, the Indian Army successfully conducted live drills of Anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) indicating the preparedness of the Indian Armed Forces to face any eventualities.

India had carried out ‘non-military pre-emptive strikes’ against the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot. In the operation, a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for suicide attacks were eliminated.

Following the airstrikes, Pakistan had attempted to attack Indian military establishments before Indian airforce intercepted to thwart their attacks. India had lost one MiG-21 Bison after it shot down one of Pakistan’s F-16. There have also been continuous ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the line of control in Jammu region.

Pakistan violates ceasefire yet again, Indian army retaliates effectively

On one hand, Pakistan tries to portray itself as the torchbearers of peace by saying how the country does not want war, on the other hand, Pakistan continues the ceasefire violations at the LoC.


As per reports, the at around 3 am on Monday morning, Pakistan violated ceasefire in Akhnoor sector which was effectively retaliated by the Indian Army. The firing eventually stopped at 6:30 am. Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan had violated ceasefire along the LoC in Srinagar’s Nowshera sector in Jammu and Kashmir. On Sunday, too, the shelling from across the border reportedly started at around 3 am. Prior to that, Pakistani troops had violated ceasefire along the LoC at Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir.

In fact, just hours after the ‘peace’ initiative of the release of Wing Commander Abhinandan, Pakistan killed civilians owing to ceasefire violations in Poonch, Kashmir. A 9-month-old baby and a 5-year-old child, siblings and their mother were killed in the shelling.

The rampant ceasefire violations indicate that the ‘peace gesture’ of returning Wing Commander Abhinandan to India was extremely farcical. And that he was returned only due to international conventions and the pressure built on them by the Indian government. While Pakistani Ministers are floating Imran Khan as a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, his army is busy killing children and infants.

BSP led with maximum number of candidates with criminal cases in 2017 UP Assembly elections: Election Watch report

According to a report published by National Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), 36% of the total number of MLAs in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly have declared criminal cases against them. 26% of the MLAs have serious cases pending against them including cases related to murder and attempt to murder etc. The report had analysed 402 MLAs out of a total of 403.

The report shows that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) fielded the maximum number of candidates with criminal cases pending against them in the 2017 UP Assembly elections leading with 38%. BSP also has the maximum number of MLCs (33%) having criminal cases pending against them followed by SP having 24%.

It also gives data about the criminal records of candidates fielded by political parties in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. As per the report, CPI(ML)L was the leading party in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections having fielded 55% candidates from Uttar Pradesh with pending criminal cases. CPI(ML)L was followed by SP with 46% candidates and BSP with 44% such candidates.

The report also gives out the details of the financial assets of candidates from Uttar Pradesh who contested in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. It reveals that out of total 1259 Lok Sabha candidates form Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, 413 i.e. 33% were millionaires compared to 17% millionaire candidates in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. There were only 111 women candidates which made out only 11% of the total number of candidates.

PM Modi launches “Made in Amethi” AK-203 rifle manufacturing facility, development projects in Rahul Gandhi’s home turf

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Amethi in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday and launched a Kalashnikov rifle manufacturing facility, the proposal of which was cleared by the NDA government on February 14, 2019.

Ahead of his visit to Amethi, which is Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s home turf, PM Modi said he was “looking forward to being among my sisters and brothers of Amethi today.” This was Modi’s first visit to the constituency of Rahul Gandhi after becoming the Prime Minister.

Eying at the development of Amethi, Centre had cleared a proposal to set up a new plant at Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, for the joint production of 7.47 lakh AK-203 rifles, which is an updated version of the legendary AK-47 rifle. This decision comes after the Narendra Modi government had signed a deal for procuring 72,400 SIG716 advanced assault rifles for the Indian Army’s infantry from the US-based M/s Sig Sauer.

The joint venture is in response to Ministry of Defence (MoD)’s Request for Information (RFI) for procurement of 6,50,000 assault rifles of 7.62×39 mm calibre under ‘Make in India’ program.

The Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd is a joint venture between India’s Ordinance factory and a Russian firm. Termed a milestone in Indo-Russian cooperation, the Korwa Ordinance Factory will manufacture the latest series of the iconic Kalashnikov rifles. The ordnance factory was set up in Amethi in 2007 itself, but it did not see any major production. During his speech, PM Modi said that production was supposed to start in 2010, but the then government could not even decide what to produce in the factory. He said that promise was for 1500 jobs but only 200 persons got jobs.

Russian president Vladamir Putin had sent a message on the occasion of launching the rifle factory, which was read out by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Putin said that “the new joint venture will manufacture world famous Kalashnikov assault rifles of the newest 200 series and eventually will reach full localization of production. Thus, the Indian defence-industrial sector will have the opportunity to fulfill the needs of national security agencies in this category of small arms, resting upon advanced Russian technologies.”

“One of the most advanced rifles in world AK-203 will be made in Amethi. It will be made by a joint-venture of India and Russia. I express my gratitude to my friend President Vladimir Putin, this venture was made possible in such a short time by his support,” PM Modi said addressing the rally.

Taking a jibe at Rahul Gandhi’s promise to set up mobile phone and other factories in every place where he addresses rallies, Modi said some people keep talking about ‘Made in Ujjain, Made in Jaisalmer’, ‘Made in Baroda’ in their speeches, but nothing is actually done. On the other hand, now made in Amethi Kalashnikov riffles will be available for Indian armed forces. He said that in future, Amethi will be known for the modern rifle factory. Lakhs of rifles will be made from this facility in Amethi, and will strengthen our security forces, PM Modi added.

Apart from this, the Prime Minister also unveiled several development projects in power generation, education, health and manufacturing sectors. These projects will directly benefit the Amethi region, he said. The prime minister added that developmental projects in Amethi were facing several bottlenecks, and those bottlenecks are now being removed. He said that now projects will be operationalised, which will provide employment to people.

Interestingly, under a similar initiative taken by the BJP government, a village in Amethi had gone completely digital with access to over 200 government services at the click of a mouse. But interestingly this initiative has been taken not by the Congress President but by the Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani who has been instrumental in reducing Rahul’s victory margin in Amethi from some 3.70 lakh votes in 2009 to 1.07 lakh in 2014.

With Modi led NDA Government working relentlessly towards the holistic development of the Nation including areas which are predominantly Congress’ realm, the decreasing Congress admiration in Amethi and Rae Bareli has been evident.

Hoardings stating that Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi will “fizzle out” in Uttar Pradesh was seen in Raebareli. “Toot jaega danka, fuss (fizzle out) ho jaengi Priyanka,” stated the hoarding at Canal Road in Raebareli.

Even today during Modi’s speech, when he had talked about Congress trying to block the Rafale deal, people had started shouting “Rahul Gandhi chor hai”.

Rahul Gandhi, who, for all this while has hardly missed an opportunity to take pot shots at the Prime Minister, had made assertions that in another 10-15 years, Amethi would develop so quickly that when people talk of the city-state of Singapore and California in the United States, they would talk of Amethi in the same breath.

Little did the people then understand that probably, judging by the current scenario, the Congress president was making such attestations solely depending on the development schemes the BJP government has been planning and implementing, not only in Amethi but all across the nation.

Prime Minister Modi in Amethi: People of Amethi are going to write a new history

After addressing a rally at Gandhi Maidan, Patna, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Amethi, the constituency of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, to inaugurate and lay down the foundation stone of various developmental projects including the launch of Kalashnikov rifles manufacturing factory. Addressing the public meeting in Kauhar, Amethi, Modi greeted the people of Amethi in the regional style saying, “Jai Ram Ji ki! Aur Aap logan k haalchaal kaise hain?”. He thanked people for coming in such large numbers.

He said that Amethi is a good example of the slogan of ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas’ given by the BJP during the 2014 Lok Sabha Election.


Modi announced that the AK-203 rifle, one the most advanced rifles in the world, will now be manufactured in the ordinance factory in Korba in a joint venture with Russia. He thanked the President of Russia Vladimir Putin for the collaboration and said that these rifles will be of great help to our security forces in fighting terrorists and naxals.


Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi Modi said that people keep delivering speeches around the world promising made in Ujjain, made in Jaipur, made in Jaisalmer things but they failed to deliver this promise in Amethi. Attacking the Congress, PM Modi said that the factory in Korba was set up to manufacture modern rifles but its full potential was never utilised.


Criticising Rahul Gandhi on the issue of unemployment in Amethi, Modi said that people who preach sermons about unemployment could not provide employment to the people of Amethi.  Modi also mentioned that fact that no bullet-proof jackets were provided to our soldiers between 2009 to 2014.


He launched a scathing attack on the Congress Party over the Rafale issue saying that despite the Supreme court judgement and the CAG report giving a clean chit to the government they are raising questions about it and that is only because they did not get any commission in this deal.

Concluding his speech Union Minister for the work done by her in Amethi and also President of Russia. He also praised Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharam for the decisions taken by her during the recent war-like situation between India and Pakistan.

West Bengal police baton-charges BJP workers to stop them from taking out Vijay Sankalp bike rally

The West Bengal lathi-charged and baton-charged BJP workers on Sunday to stop them from carrying out Vijay Sankalp bike rally which was kick-started by BJP President Amit Shah. The BJP workers were prevented from carrying out the bike rally in different parts of the State on the ground of ongoing board exams.


According to reports, the BJP workers went ahead with the bike rally despite being denied permission by the administration. This led to violent clashes between the police and the BJP workers at Durgapur and Asansol in Wets Burdwan district, Midnapore town and Goaltore in West Midnapore and Balurghat in South Dinajpur where the rallies were taken out. The police said that they stopped the BJP workers from taking out the rallies as there is a ban in the State on taking out public rallies due to ongoing board exams.

BJP State President Dilip Ghosh tweeted the pictures of the BJP workers who were injured due to attack by police using batons.


Ghosh said that the bike rallies will continue despite the police action. “Hundreds of Sankalp yatras are being held in the country and in Bengal also. It will be held even if police arrest us,” said Ghosh. Bike rallies are a part of the pre-poll campaign of BJP to establish contact with the people.

“R-73 selected”: Last radio transmission of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman before ejecting from his MiG-21 Bison

“R-73 is selected” was the last radio transmission of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman from the MiG-21 Bison he was flying. After that, he had shot down the Pakistani F-16 fighter jet with Vympel R-73 air to air missile. The Pakistani fighter jet had violated the Indian airspace by entering the border areas of Jammu & Kashmir’s Rajouri district.

Abhinandan had pursued the Pakistani jets ignoring warnings from flight controllers asking him not to do so. He was asked to turn away before crossing the Line of Control, but he had already engaged an F-16 and decided to go for the kill before returning. After locking onto the F-16, Abhinandan used the short-range R-73 missile to take it down. Immediately after he released the missile, his plane was also hit, forcing him to eject and land inside Pakistan controlled territory.

Vympel R-73 short-range air-to-air missile

Pakistan had retaliated the Indian airstrikes on the terrorist camps of Pakistan backed terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad in Balakot in Pakistan by deploying F-16s, JF-17s and Mirage-5 fighter jets to attack Indian military installations across the LoC. However due to swift and timely response of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Pakistan’s malicious plans could not succeed. Indian fighter jets Sukhoi-30MKIs, Mirage-2000s, MiG-29s and six MiG-21s including the one flied by Wing Commander Abhinandan were deployed India to intercept the Pakistani fighter jets.

Wing Commander Abhinandan locked on to the Pakistani F-16, which is comparatively modern, before being shot down and accidentally landing in the PoK. Pakistan has been denying having deployed the F-16 to intrude the Indian air space but the electronic signatures of the F-16s were picked up by the IAF radars. The Indian forces had also recovered the parts of an AIM-120C advanced medium range air to air missile form east of Rajouri in J&K, which is only carried by the Pakistani F-16s.

Baloch Republic Army (BRA) claims to have destroyed three posts of Pakistani Army, releases a video

According to a report of the Republic, a video has been released by the official channel of Baloch Republic Army (BRA), claiming that the BRA fighters attacked the Pakistani army posts in Mand area of Kech on February 27, 2019. The BRA destroyed three posts of the Pakistan army and chanted the slogan of ‘Azad Balochistan Zindabad’.

After Pakistan based terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad carried out the ghastly terrorist attack on the CRPF convoy in Pulwana, a US-based Baloch group called the ‘Balochistan National Congress’ (BNC) had condemned the attack and had asked India to declare war on Pakistan. The BNC had also urged PM Modi to sever all diplomatic ties with Pakistan, recall the Indian ambassador from Islamabad and send back Pakistan’s ambassador from Delhi immediately. BNS President Wahid Baloch had also issued a statement holding Pakistan responsible for the Pulwama terrorist attack. “The perpetrators must be brought to justice. There should be no doubt that Pakistan was behind the attack. It is time to pay Pakistan back for their crimes against humanity and killing of innocent people,” Baloch said.

The BNC had also requested the Indian government to help Baloch leader Khan Kalat living in exile in India set up a government in Balochistan and also help him file a case against Pakistan’s illegal occupation of Balochistan in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).  Balochistan province, which is rich in natural resources like oil, gas and gold, has been demanding political rights, autonomy and control over its territory since it got independence in 1947.

Sadhguru talks about dismantling the enemy within the country, ‘liberals’ take offense

The recent India-Pakistan tensions which raised out of India’s airstrikes against Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camps deep inside Pakistan’s territory to avenge the death of Indians soldiers had exposed some of the faultlines existing in India, which often manifest in the form of hatred towards the idea of India. In relation to dealing with the ‘enemy within the country’, Spiritual Guru and mystic, Sadhguru has a set of practical solutions to take on the ‘deep state’ that operates within the country which challenges the basic ‘idea of India’. Speaking at the Times Now ‘Frankly Speaking’ interview, Sadhguru has called for dismantling the entire ‘infrastructure’ that not only stands by the terror inflicting apparatus of Pakistan but also part of Pakistan’s policy of ‘bleeding India with thousand cuts’.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb2sdVM8lwI]

Sadhguru, who is often known for prudent and logical argumentation has suggested that the enemy within the country must be dealt with 100 per cent before seeking solutions to the existing problems. Referring to the stone pelting incident just hours after the deadly Pulwama terror attack, Sadhguru said these people who are being referred to as “boys”, “alienated boys” should be dealt with completely.

“The Nation wants a solution. But, internally people who are giving financial support, physical support and kind of giving them media space, social media spaces are adding to the problem. I think it is the time we undo that 100%,” said Sadhguru.

When asked about action against the terrorist state of Pakistan, Sadhguru said that as India being a matured and cultural nation, which always stood for peace, we should ‘not seek retribution but solution’. The talks and dialogues will not work to find a solution as Pakistan is working for what they believe is their way of doing things. We should work on how to find a solution and one important piece of the solution is the support to Pakistan within the country must be stamped out, said Sadhguru.

Sadhguru further added that the enemy within is not just one or two people but a whole infrastructure and it should be dismantled. We should have the courage to deal with the local infrastructure now, said the mystic guru. Without taking the names of Abdullah or Mehbooba Mufti, he further added that the state political leaders are playing to these people to protect their political interest.

“There are people clearly another side of the wall, we need to deal with them one way. There are a whole lot of people who sit on the wall not knowing which way to fall, we should deal with compassionately. Those who are on this side, we should protect them so that they don’t get harmed,” said Sadhguru. “There is a religious dimension to the Kashmir issue,” emphasised Sadhguru.

Reacting to the peaceniks’ proposal of talks and dialogue with Pakistan, Sadhguru took a dig, saying, “What do you want to talk about? You want to discuss philosophies or what? There is nothing to talk”. He added that the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has made it very clear what he wanted referring to one of his speeches where he had threatened India.

“We should not engage with Pakistan at any level. As their policy towards us to bleed with thousand cuts, we should be wise enough not to be outraged but to work for the solution and cornering Pakistan is very important, whether cricket, music, it must stop,” added Sadhguru in his interview with journalist Navika Kumar.

Referring to the highly controversial casteist Caravan report, which had reported the caste of the martyred soldiers, Sadhguru said that these people were the lowest level of minds in our country.

With reference to JNU students Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid, Sadhguru expressed that according to the law they should not be walking in the streets. “Please end this. The country is ready for this. This is the time to deal with all of them. This is not retribution but about ensuring the threshold of possibility upon which we are sitting to bring the well being of the country, which had a bad deal for last 15 generations” said the head of Isha Foundation.

“Now, there is a possibility, we do not want a fool to hijack this. So we must act for a solution. This is the time. Dismantle the infrastructure. All of them, no matter who they are,” suggested Yogi Sadhguru.

However, the left-wing liberal industry, who often express their love towards Pakistan and stands in support of anti-national elements are not amused by the views of Sadhguru. The self-proclaimed free speech warriors have resorted to foul-mouthing Sadhguru, who is not only one of the most enlightened minds of the country but also has a huge following across the globe.

Swara Bhasker, one of the ultra-left wing entertainers in the Bollywood, who is fighting for relevance, not only stood by the alleged anti-national elements but also called Sadhguru a ‘sick, violent and deeply prejudiced man’.


Another ultra left-wing troll, Kavita Krishnan got aroused against Sadhguru for expressing his views. She claimed that he openly instigated violence against Kanhaiya and referred to the alleged anti-nationals as ‘vocal critics of the present regime’. She called Sadhguru as “crude hatemongers & Fraudmen masquerading as spiritual gurus” despite the fact that he did not call for any violence in any part of the interview.


One followed the another as Radia tape famed M K Venu, co-founder of the ultra-left-wing magazine, The Wire which mostly supports anti-national elements, failed to comprehend the interview and falsely claimed that Sadhguru was instigating extra-legal action. However, Sadhguru has nowhere expressed such solutions in the interview


One wonders why the journalist/’liberal’ cabal would get irked when Sadhguru speaks of dismantling the infrastructure that breeds and supports enemies of the nation. One certainly wonders if in their desperation to oppose, they might have just made a Freudian slip.

Media speculates about JeM chief Masood Azhar being dead: Truth or misinformation campaign by Pakistan

Although very little information is available about the damage caused by Indian airstrike on terror camps in Pakistan, now some media houses have started reporting that Jaish‑e‑Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar may have died.

On the early hours of 26th February, Indian Air Force had bombed Jaish terror camps in Balakot, Pakistan. Pakistan had confirmed the strike, but had said that the bombs fell on a forest nearby and it did not hit any building only one villager was injured. The airstrike was done in response to Pulwama terror attack by a Jaish suicide bomber on February 14th, which had killed 40 CRPF personnel. It was reported that Indian Air Force had used 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets to conduct the airstrike, along with one Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft and one Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for support functions. One Pakistani minister had confirmed the presence of 14 aircraft in the operation, adding that 4 was involved in the bombing, while others were in standby.

According to an unconfirmed report by Times Now, Maulana Masood Azhar was present in the JeM headquarters when it was hit by Indian forces, and he has died as a consequence of the same.


Times Now noted that although Masood has died due to the airstrike, Pakistan will try to say that he has died due to illness. Just after the Indian airstrike, reports had emerged from Pakistan that Masood is suffering from renal failure and his disease was in an advanced stage. Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said that Masood is very unwell and he can’t leave his house.

As reports of Azhar being ill had emerged only after the Indian strike, some people had speculated that Azhar may have died in the strike, but Pakistan was preparing the ground to inform that he has died due to illness, that’s why news of his kidney disease news was circulated.


And just like those speculations, some reports suggest the Masood Azhar had died due to illness, but the disease reported this time is liver cancer. According to CNN News 18, he died on March 2, and it will be formally announced by the Pakistan government after confirmation is received from Army Hospital.


Although several media houses have reported that Azhar has died, all of them are speculative reports and at present no confirmed information is available. This can also be misinformation spread by Pakistan also to divert attention from its lack of action on terror groups operating from the country. One can perhaps imagine why Pakistan would want to spread misinformation. If the news of the death of their chief terrorist gains traction, they can easily skirt the responsibility of acting against terror while continuing to bleed India with a thousand cuts. The real picture would hopefully emerge when and if Indian authorities choose to comment on the speculations.